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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

Oh dear am I miscarrying? please help

22 replies

Bibbo · 08/11/2011 10:10

I am 5 weeks and until last night everything was going really well. However last night i had a small amount of spotting, and then all through the night and this morning I have had the most terrible cramps, although thankfully so far no more bleeding.

The GP receptionists said I am too early for a scan so no point waiting 2hrs to see the GP. All I can do is play the waiting game. I have had 2 m/cs in the past since having my dd 4 yrs ago but they weren't like this - I still feel pg iykwim, with sore boobs, hormones up and all the rest of it. the cramps have subsided now but I just feel really sore.

I know that cramps and spotting don't always mean the end of a pregnancy but surely severe cramps aren't normal?

I could really do with some advice, I hope someone can help...

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lottielou39 · 08/11/2011 10:20

I don't want to worry you ,but my sister recently had an ectopic with exactly the same symptoms. I'd insist on a scan (they can do a vaginal scan at your stage) to confirm where the pregnancy is etc.. to reassure. Bleeding doesn't always mean miscarriage, but the terrible cramps are more worrying. Please go to your early pregnancy unit at hospital, or phone your midwife and insist she books you in for an urgent scan today, just to see what's going on.

Original poster

Bibbo · 08/11/2011 10:29

that doesn't sound good. i have called my midwife, she said phone the hospital, so I did and they said see my GP for a referral! Then the receptionist said no point and so I just came back home. Maybe i just need to bite the bullet and go to A&E, i don't want to but at least then I would get seen. It's not easy being assertive with healthcare providers when you're feeling like this!

The things is, the cramps have subsided now and so far there's no more bleeding, so I might be making a mountain out of a molehill. I would feel bad presenting to A&E unless I was actually bleeding and cramping at the time.

Thanks for advice lottielou, I will bear it in mind and if I get any more symptoms will get help straight away :)

OP posts:

pruney1977 · 08/11/2011 10:31

I'd ring your GP surgery back and insist on a doctors appt, don't tell the receptionist what it is for but insist that you must be seen today. Failing that, do you have a walk in centre near you?

belindarose · 08/11/2011 10:37

If too early for a scan, they should take bloods 48 hours apart and will be able to tell a lot from that. The HCG will double if still pregnant, rise but not double if ectopic, and be dropping if the pregnancy is failing. Insist on speaking to an actual doctor, not an unqualified receptionist. Best wishes, fingers crossed for you.

Original poster

Bibbo · 08/11/2011 10:49

OK will try again to get seen. thanks for advice x

OP posts:

babydust27 · 08/11/2011 11:20

So sorry to hear that your not getting much help from the nhs. are you able to pay for a private scan? The one local to where i live charges £65 to be scanned on the day you ring

morethemerrier · 08/11/2011 11:40

Have you an EPU (early pregnancy unit) attached to your hospital that you can call for advice? Is that who requested a referal?

I would agree others that you should go and see your GP and get them to refer you. Can your midwife not refer you?

And dont worry about creating a fuss, its better to get peace of mind so you are not constantly worrying, I had an early scan at 8 weeks as I had an early miscarriage and was having some right hand side pain. Thankfully it was all ok (18weeks now).

Its not the receptionists job to advise wether its worth it or not. Good luck x

Hopingforastickyone · 08/11/2011 11:43

Bibbo,

So sorry you are going thorugh this. Hopefully cramping was nothing (and there is every possibility it was just implantation cramping). However, as other posters have mentioned I would INSIST on being seen to rule out an ectopic pregnancy.

I am routinely scanned at 5 weeks to ensure that the pregnancy is developing in the right place due to a wonky fallopian tube which puts me at high risk.

All you will see is a little gestational sac (no heartbeat yet) but that's all that matters at this stage.

Best of luck

Hopingforastickyone · 08/11/2011 11:44

And btw, HCG numbers can still double with an ectopic so it really is only a scan that can determine that the embryo is burrowed in the right place.

belindarose · 08/11/2011 12:02

Sorry if I misinformed about HCG levels then. That's what I was told by my GP when I had an mc. Hope all is well for OP.

mrsrvc · 08/11/2011 13:38

Bibbo.

I would present yourself at A&E. I had to argue to see a GP with a receptionist with a presumed miscarriage. I eventually got an appointment, the doctor then sent me to A&E as by then the EPU was closed, and I was admitted with a suspected eptopic. IT was confirmed the next day. Thankfully I miscarried it naturally, but if I had listened to the untrained receptionist I hate to think what might have happened.

I don't mean to scare you, but the symptoms sound suspicious, and it is better to diagnose an eptopic at 5 weeks (easily done with a TV scan), than wait for it to rupture a tube at 6... The symptoms at this stage may well be intermitent. I now have to self refer as soon as I have a positive pregnancy test and they scan me every couple of days until they can see the pregnancy. in each of my 3 subsequent pregnancies, they have been able to locate the pregnancy by 5 weeks.

Please let us know how you get on.

vmcd28 · 08/11/2011 15:44

let us know how you get on.
Symptoms etc can be there for days, even after a MC. So disregard them.
I've had 2 MCs - one with spotting, one without any bleeding.
I've had 2 healthy DSs - one pg had no spotting at all, the other I spotted regularly for 16 weeks and had cramp.
What I'm saying is, none of us can accurately tell you what this is or isn't - you have to either insist on a scan to rule out ectopic, or you play the waiting game till you know more, or till you're far enough along for a scan.

Whatever is happening, we will all be here to support you. Best of luck.
x

Dillydollydaydream · 08/11/2011 16:07

Hope all goes well.

I had spotting and cramps with dd and had to have a scan as they were worried about an ectopic pregnancy.
My GP was actually very good back then.

The scan showed I had an ovarian cyst but other than that no other cause for the bleeding was found.
The spotting continued until I was about 9weeks but everything was fine in the end.

essexmumma · 08/11/2011 16:14

Good luck OP. Please push to be seen.

mumt1 · 08/11/2011 17:52

Hope all is ok. U need to be seen, when I was 5 weeks I had bleeding and severe cramps. Had my HCG levels monitered every 48 hrs and 3 scans in total.(Over a period of 5 weeks) all has turned out to be ok so far and I'm now 16 weeks. So good luck and its not aways bad news x

Original poster

Bibbo · 08/11/2011 19:18

Thank you everyone, it is so reassuring to hear that others have been through this.

I presented at A&E in the end and got up to the maternity unit pretty quickly. The gynaecologist was great and very reassuring. She examined me and while she hasn't completely ruled out an ectopic she thought it was unlikely. Also my HCG is in the normal range.

Am going back in tomorrow for a scan which they may repeat in a few days depending on what they can see at this stage. The cramps have subsided and although I feel very sore I still have lots of pregnancy symptoms so there is still some hope - will let you know how the scan goes tomorrow, I've got everything crossed for this little one - thanks again all :)

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mrsrvc · 08/11/2011 19:22

Great news. I hope that its "just one of those things" and that tomorrow you get to see a nice little sac in exactly the right place.
Its always worth getting checked out over these things, they would rather you be over cautious than leave it too late.

justhayley · 08/11/2011 20:38

I had an internal scan at 5 weeks for terrible cramps but no bleeding. If ur GP won't refer u call ur local early pregnancy unit yourself most will accept self referrals - or simply turn up at a&e. Don't ignore it it's better to know what's happening if if it's the worst news at least you'l know rather than having to wait and wonder

aethelfleda · 09/11/2011 09:58

bibbo, great news it's not an ectopic and fingers crossed!

I would suggest though (if you feel up to it) that when this is sorted, you ring your GPs and ask to be put through/rung bak by the practice manager. Refusing to give an appointment to a lady with a positive pregnancy test and cramping is just plain wrong and the receptionist needs to be made aware of her error and trained not to do this again. If you tell the practice manager what happened she will log this as a clinical incident and the GP partners will be informed so that they can ensure staff behave appropriately in future. Yoi can ask that this be anonymous, by the way.

Original poster

Bibbo · 09/11/2011 17:45

Quick update - had internal scan today and everything seems ok!!

Too early to find a heartbeat but the yolk sac was there and apparently everything looks as expected. Am going for another scan in a week to check for the heartbeat.

I couldn't believe it when I saw it on the screen - I thought nothing could survive those violent cramps - if I hadn't gone for a scan I would be going out of my mind by now probably.

This isn't the first time i've had issues with that particular receptionist... not so long ago she was refusing to convert a hospital prescription to a GP's one when I had terrible back pain and was literally crying in the surgery so maybe i should complain. If it had been an ectopic things could have gone very wrong.

Have been told to take it easy for next week, no heavy lifting etc. Will lie on sofa and eat cake

OP posts:

belindarose · 09/11/2011 21:40

Great news, hope all continues to be well. Enjoy the cake!

ExquisiteCake · 09/11/2011 21:45

Oh I'm so glad everything is ok :)

For the record, in future, please do not take the advice of a receptionist. A secretary on the end of the phone is not the same as medical advice. If you're really unsure about "making a fuss at hospital" then at least ring the NHS direct.

You did the right thing getting your backside to A&E and I'm so thankful the outcome is great :)

Enjoy your relaxing time!

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